So... here's a
slightly crazy piece of information for the week....
Come October, I can
use Facebook for proselyting purposes... Whaaat? I'm not really sure how I feel
about this. :) I really loved the
idea about leaving all that social connection behind when I left. However,
I know the First Presidency and other people at church headquarters have
thought about this a lot and this has definitely been in the works for years...
So I'm sure great things will come of it. I just really don't love the prospect
of seeing everything going on back at home as of right now... sort
of feel like it will be more of a hindrance than help... Guess we'll find out
in October.
Ran into Jay and Lisa
Franklin yesterday...That was SO crazy. I mean, of all the millions of people
here in New York City! Haha. Guess they were in town for a Yankee's vs.
Redsox game... (Way to go SOX.) (Sorry New York, you'll never convert me in
that aspect. Haha.) Super awesome to see them and tell them all about my area
and the missionary work around here.
Something I've been
thinking about a lot this week is the concept of "spiritual gifts". I
was encouraged by Sister Freeze (a sister serving in the English ward) to write
down all the gifts of the spirit I've been given and all the talents I have.
Then to write down things I'd like to improve on and spiritual gifts and
talents I would like to develop more fully. I definitely recommend this
exercise to anyone and everyone! It's awesome.... here's why...
The word talent comes
from the Greek word talanton, meaning balance or weight, and refers to any
variety of weights of gold or silver and the value of such in terms of currency
in ancient cultures. Most of the seventy occurrences of the world
"talent" in the scriptures refer to money in this sense, including in
the parable of Jesus concerning the king who became the model of compassion by
forgiving one of his servants a debt of "ten thousand talents".
(Matthew 18: 24). However, in His other well-known "parable of the talents"
(Matthew 25), the Lord uses the metaphor to show that talents
can be more than just money... they're also gifts that we can use to achieve
worthwhile goals. In this sense talents are given to us to build the kingdom...
they do in fact come with covenant responsibility. When we serve the Lord with
all our heart, mind and strength (D&C 4:2) we can "stand blameless
before God" and bring "Salvation to our souls". (D&C 4:4)
Using our talents for the cause of Zion will bring joy, comfort and eternally
enduring blessings.
As I learned more
about what talents and gifts of the spirit actually ARE... I saw how I could
use the gifts I've been given to improve those things that I saw needed some
work in my life. The lord doesn't give us a task unless he has prepared a way
for us to accomplish it. And well…I found that I have been given many
tools/gifts/talents that will enable me to accomplish and achieve the goals
I've set for myself.
(If you'd like citation
of my sources...the scriptures, PMG, True to the Faith, and My Missionary Companion
scripture book. Haha. I highly encourage you to read the spiritual gifts
section of True to the Faith. Super great. )
Another gift I've
been given is my Companion Sister Jorgensen.
She is such an
inspiration to me. And I couldn't be more grateful to have her as my companion
right now. She's helped me learn a lot about myself in the last 6 weeks.
She is such a strong
woman. I don't know if she realizes it, but it's the truth.
She gave me a talk to
read this last week... Wow. She just knows exactly what I need, when I need it.
Ironically the talk she gave me mentioned how God has a very detailed plan for
my mission... the people I will serve and teach, the wards I will be placed in,
the areas I will be assigned to, my mission president and his wife, and of
course those who will serve as my companions. And I know 100% that this is
true. I know Sister Jorgensen was meant to be serving in this ward with me at
this point in our missions. Our companionship isn't perfect... it's not like
there weren't days this transfer that we could have been more
effective/diligent. BUT Sister Jorgensen always knows how to make things
better. It's awesome to see how our spiritual gifts and strengths really
compliment each other.
Man,
I pray we stay
together this upcoming transfer! (Only one week left of this transfer...
they're just FLYING. Kinda want time to just slow the heck down. Haha.)
Anyway... that's
about all I'd like to gab about today, hope everyone is well and dandy!
LOVE you!
Hermana Tara Franklin
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